A report by VisitBritain says that almost three quarters of the 30 million travellers who came here last year were making return trips.

The research showed that 77 per cent of visitors had been at least once in the past 10 years and some had returned many times.

Around 50,000 people took part in the Government's International Passenger Survey, which revealed that tourists from Luxembourg, the Republic of Ireland and the United Arab Emirates respectively were most loyal to Britain.

Least likely to return were those from Chile, Taiwan and Argentina.

Visitors from the Gulf region - consisting of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman - are Britain's highest value customers.

Some 91 per cent of visitors from the UAE who came for a holiday were repeaters.

This group visited the UK an average of nine times each in the last 10 years, indicating that many visit every year.

They spend around £1,750 on each visit, which means that over a 10-year period each 'customer' spends over £15,000.

Meanwhile 90 per cent of holiday visitors from the Irish Republic visited the UK an average of eight times each in the past decade.

They spent far less per visit than those from the UAE, about £400 or £3,000 over 10 years.

The bulk of holidaymakers to Britain come from France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

An average holiday visitor from these markets will typically be on their fourth visit to Britain in the last 10 years, spending around £300-£400 each time.

VisitBritain's director of strategy and communications, Patricia Yates, said: "Considering the number of worldwide destinations available to overseas travellers, and the fierce competition for overseas visitors, it is very encouraging to know that 77 per cent of the 30 million overseas tourists who came to the UK last year had already visited in the last 10 years and chosen to return to Britain.

"It is an important sign that Britain is to generate a sustained uplift in tourism after the Olympics."


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